Cat line spool



B. TRAVIS CAT LINE SPOOL April 25, 1933.

Filed Nov. 5, 1930 Patented Apr. 25, 1933 BERT TRAVIS, QF SANTA FESBBINGS, .CALIFORNIA CAT LINE sroor v AApplication filed November 3,1930.` Seriai No. 493,004.'

This invention relates: to. a cat line spool adapted to be used'on awell drilling rig. On the conventional well drilling rig now employedthere is a cat line extending over 5 a sheave or pulley on the crownblock of the derrick used for various purposes such as bringing pipeinto the derrick and elevating it therein. Power is supplied to the catline by giving the cat line one or more wraps lo around a cat headassociated with the draw works and as the cat head rotates the hook onthe cat line may be raised or lowered. It is now customary to provide aswivel hook near the cat head on which the reserve cat 15 line can belooped as it is unwrapped from the cat head. The strain on the cat lineand the unwrapping of the cat line from the cat head causes a twist totake place in the reserve cat line which has been withdrawn or unwrappedfrom the cat head. This twist causes the line to kink and the operatorusually turns the swivel hook with the looped 30 a novel, simple andadvantageous construction for handling the reserve cat line and whichwill facilitate the taking out of the twist and the removal of the kinksin the cat line which has been unwrapped from 35 the oat head and which'will enable the operator to spend practically his entire time near thecat head instead of losing so much time at the swivel hook now employedin removing the kinks.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will be mademanifest in the following detailed description, and specically pointedout in the appended claims, reference is had to the accompanying drawingfor an illustrative embodiment of the invention, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a partial view in elevation illustrating pertinent parts of awell drilling rig and illustrating the invention as having beeninstalled thereon.

Fig. 2 isa view in endelevation lof the im proved cat line spool. n "fFig.` 3 is a view/in side elevation ofthe im-V proved cat linespool.

Fig. 4 is ahorizontal sectionvtakenfonthe *5E line M on Figure Y3.

Fig. 5 isa vertical section taken on the line 5-5 on Figure 2.

Fig. 6 is a view on an enlarged scale, illustrating a portion of Figure4.

Referring' tothe accompanying drawing, wherein similar referencecharacters designate similar parts throughout, the reference character10 designates a well drilling derrick at the top of which there islocated a crown block having a sheave or pulley 11 over which the vca tline 12 extends. The cat line isillustrated as suspending a hook'l and#the motive lpower vis supplied tothe cat line by the cat head 14associated with'the m draw works, a portion ofA Vwhichis indicated at115.4 The free end 'of the cat line indi` cated at 16 is theportion inwhich the twist becomes apparent Vand which it is desirable to untwistand windupon a suitable spool. 7@

To accomplish the above end,'the spool comprises a stationary` spindle17 which may be mounted in any suitablem'anner as by bolts 18 on asupport 197 which may form a part ofthe derrick. About the spindle-17Vlr80 there are positioned' suitable anti-friction bearings 20 and aninnersleeve An outer sleeve 22' surrounds ther inner sleeve-21 and isdisposed in spaced relation thereto as by 85,

spacers End plates 2,4, and 25 are provided,.the end plate. 24. beingfastened to the end of outersleeve 22 Vand toinner sleeve The outer endplate` 2 5is fastened only to the outer sleeve 22. The inner sleeve 21ad- 9o jacentits .outer end has; on opposite ysides pairs of lugs orvears 2,6. Clampmelflber's27:` and 28 have their inner ends providedvwith corresponding.` ears 29V which are fastened to the ears 26as bypins or bolts 3.0. The. 95

portion 16. As clearlyshown in Figure 2,

the periphery of the end plate 25 is preferably formed with a notch 33.

The operation and advantages of the iInproved cat line spool are asfollows. The strain on the cat line l2 which is'wrapped about the cathead causes a twist to be present in that portion 16 of the cat linewhich is between the cat head 14 and the jaws 32. This twist accumulatesand kinks the portion 16 of the cat line. As soon as the twist becomesapparent in the portion 16 it is possible for the operator whilestanding near the cat head 14 to give the portion 16 of the cat line athrow. This throw of the portion 16A of the cat line causes the reel torotate without pullingvthe cat line from between the jaws 32. The reelthus turning takes the twist out of the portion 16 of lthe cat line,removing the kinks so that the flat lay of the line will be preserved.In this way the operator may continually remain near the cat head yet hemay easily take the twist out of the cat line by throwing the portion 16of the line.

Whenever a change of operations takes place so that it is desirable towind up more reserve on the reel or unwind more reserve from the reel,the portion 16 of the line is given a considerable pull, suilicient topull the line from between the jaws 32. The jaws 32 can then serve as ahandle for a crank and the reel rotated therebyv to wind up or unwindreserve line as desired. As soonas the desired amount of reserve hasbeen removed from the reel or wound up thereon, the line is broughtthrough notch 33 and again positioned between the jaws 82, in whichposition the spool can be advantageously employed to take out the twistin the portion 1,6 as previously described.

From the alcovev described construction it will be appreciated thatasimple, novel and durable construction is provided for handling thereserve cat line as it is unwrapped from the cat head 14. The improvedconstructionV not only enables the operator to take the twist out of theline by merely throwing the line but enables the reserve line to beeasily' spooled so as to be quickly available.

Various changes may be made in the details of construction withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of the invention as delined by theappended claims. Y

I claim:

1. In combination with a well drilling rig having a cat line and a cathead, a spool on which the cat line may be wound after being removedfrom the cat head, and means on the spool rotatable therewith adapted toreleasably hold the cat line whereby the spool may be rotated withoutwinding up line on the spool to take the twist out of the cat line. j

2. In combination with a well drilling rig having a cat line and a cathead, a rotat ably mounted spool mounted for rotation independently ofthe cat head and on which the cat line may be wound after being removedrom the cat head, and means on the spool rotatable therewith adapted toreleasably hold the cat line whereby the spool may be rotated withoutwinding up line on the spool orv unwinding line therefrom to take thetwist out of the cat line.

Inv testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

his

BERT TRAVIS.

i i' Y mark Witnesses:

FRED I-I. MILLER, M "jLoUIsn HODGE.'

